The Latino Studies Program (LSP) at Cornell University will host a two-day conference on campus titled "Emerging Trends and Interdisciplinary Discourses in Latino Studies" Friday, April 14, and Saturday, April 15.

The conference, which is open to the public, explores four salient themes in the Latino studies field: (1) contributions to the disciplines, influence on new academic discourses and new perspectives on research and public policy; (2) research priorities and recent intellectual trajectories; (3) constructions of Latino identity and rethinking the discourse on race relations in the United States; and (4) institutional responses to the inclusion of Latino-related research and instruction.

"The conference is an opportunity to engage the Cornell community in a much-needed discussion of the contributions of Latino studies to the research and teaching mission of the university," said Pedro Cabán, LSP director. "The last two decades have brought a host of new challenges to U.S. society, including a rapidly expanding Latino population that is calling for improved educational opportunities. This profound demographic change has directly affected the American university. The LSP conference is an exploration of the opportunities and challenges that the growing Latino presence in higher education presents to the university."

Cab‡n said he is hopeful that the conference will generate an appreciation of how Latino studies can foster interdisciplinary research and academic collaboration across departments and units.

"By initiating a dialogue among scholars interested in Latino and ethnic studies, race and gender studies, public policy and urban studies, immigration and demographics, the conference hopes to broaden the community's appreciation for the contributions Latino studies can make to realizing the university's academic mission," Cabán said.

The following is a comprehensive listing of conference events. With the exception of Friday's student panel, all events will be held in the Guerlac Room of the A.D. White House.

-- Friday, April 14:

Opening session, 9:15-9:45 a.m.: Topic: "Latino Studies and the Academy." Speakers: Philip Lewis, dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Cornell; and Cabán.

Panel 1, 10 a.m.-noon: Topic: "Institutional responses to the inclusion of Latino-related research and instruction." Moderator/commentator: Pilar Alicia Parra, LSP, Cornell. Presenters: Carlos Santiago, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, SUNY Albany; and Refugio Rochin, director, Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives, Washington, D.C. Discussant: Cutberto Garza, vice provost for academic programs, Cornell.

Panel 2, 1:30-3:30 p.m.: Topic: "Contributions to the disciplines, influence on new academic discourses and new perspectives on research and public policy." Moderator/commentator: Loretta Carrillo, LSP/Department of Romance Studies, Cornell. Presenters: Ben Sifuentes Jauregui, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, Rutgers University; and Mary Pardo, Department of Chicano/a Studies, California State University - Northridge. Discussant: Mary Pat Brady, Department of English, Cornell

Student panel, 4:30 p.m., 122 Rockefeller Hall: Topic: "Latinas and Latinos in the University: Defining Our Place." Moderator/commentator: Ricardo Morales, assistant director of counseling and advising, Office of Minority Educational Affairs, Cornell. Presenters: Barbara Escobio '01, Harvard University; Liliana Polo '00, Brown University; Steven Francisco '00, Columbia University; and Fiodaliza Marte, '02, Syracuse University. Discussants: Patricia Palacios '01 and David Rosas '00, Cornell.

-- Saturday, April 15:

Panel 3, 10 a.m.-noon: Topic: "Constructions of Latino identity and rethinking the discourse on race relations in the United States." Moderator/commentator: Vilma Santiago-Irizarry, LSP/Department of Anthropology, Cornell. Presenters: Suzanne Oboler, Department of American Civilization, Brown; and Andres Torrés, director, Gast—n Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts. Discussant: Locksley Edmondson, Africana Studies and Research Center, Cornell.

Panel 4, 1:30-3:30 p.m.: Topic: "Research priorities and recent intellectual trajectories." Moderator/commentator: Mar’a Cristina Garc’a, LSP/Department of History, Cornell. Presenters: David Montejano, director, Center for Mexican American Studies/Department of History, University of Texas - Austin; and Silvio Torres-Saillant, director, Latino-Latin America Studies Program, Department of English, Syracuse University. Discussant: Lourdes Beneria, Department of City and Regional Planning, Cornell.